Short Summary

THE WAR IN SOUTH VIETNAM: THE MASSIVE BENCAT OPERATION LAUNCHED EARLIER THIS WEEK AGAINST THE VIETCONG IN THE JUNGLE-CLAD AREA JUST NORTH OF SAIGON CONTINUES, BUT AFTER MORE THAN 48 HOURS THERE HAS STILL BEEN NO MAJOR CONTACT WITH THE GUERRILLAS.

Description

THE WAR IN SOUTH VIETNAM: THE MASSIVE BENCAT OPERATION LAUNCHED EARLIER THIS WEEK AGAINST THE VIETCONG IN THE JUNGLE-CLAD AREA JUST NORTH OF SAIGON CONTINUES, BUT AFTER MORE THAN 48 HOURS THERE HAS STILL BEEN NO MAJOR CONTACT WITH THE GUERRILLAS.IT'S THE FIRST JOINT SOUTH VIETNAMESE - AMERICAN - AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND OPERATION OF THE WAR, AND MORE THAN 4,000 INFANTRY PLUS SUPPORTING TROOPS AND PLANES ARE TAKING PART.

THE OPENING PHASE INCLUDED A SPECTACULAR PARA-DROP BY SOUTH VIETNAMESE TROOPS - THE FIRST SUCH OPERATION FOR TWO YEARS.THE BENCAT OPERATION HAS ALSO BROUGHT THE FIRST NEW ZEALAND DEATHS, WHEN A JEEP IN WHICH TWO NEW ZEALANDERS WERE TRAVELLING WAS BLOWN UP BY A MINE.

HUNDREDS OF SOUTH VIETNAMESE AND AMERICAN TROOPS HAVE BEEN FERRIED INTO THE OPERATIONAL AREA BY 120 HELICOPTERS WORKING IN WAVES.THEY AND THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE PARATROOPERS HAVE BEEN JOINED BY GROUND FORCES WHICH HAVE MOVED UP ALONG THE INFAMOUS HIGHWAY 13, WHICH LEADS FROM SAIGON TO HONQUAN, 60-MILES (96-KMS) NORTH OF THE CAPITAL.HIGHWAY 13 HAS BEEN THE SCENE OF MORE VIETCONG AMBUSHES THAN ANY MAIN ROAD IN SOUTH VIETNAM, AND THE CONVOY WAS THE FIRST TO MOVE ALONG IT FOR THREE MONTHS.

EN ROUTE THE FORCE SUFFERED ITS FIRST CASUALTIES: TWO NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS FROM THE 161ST FIELD BATTERY OF THE ROYAL NEW ZEALAND ARTILLERY.

APART FROM FLUSHING OUT THE VIETCONG, THE TROOPS HAVE THE TASK OF REPAIRING BRIDGES AND ROADS WHICH HAVE BEEN EITHER SABOTAGED OR DAMAGED IN THE INTENSIVE BOMBING BY U.S.B.52 STRATOFORTRESSES BASED IN GUAM.THIS AREA HAS BEEN UNDER POWERFUL CONTROL FROM THE VIETCONG FOR THE PAST 10-YEARS AND IT WILL TAKE MORE THAN MILITARY FORCE TO REMOVE THEIR INFLUENCE.